Asteroid 7742, Altamira, was discovered on October 20, 1985 by Antonin Mrkos at Klet Observatory near České Budějovice, South Bohemia, Czech Republic. It has a period of 4 years, 179 days.
It was named for Cuevas de Altamira (the Caves of Altamira) near Santillana del Mar, Cantabria, Spain, where petroglyphs (paintings and etchings) from the Stone Age depicting mainly bison, deer, horses and boar, were discovered in 1879, astonishing scientists of the day, some of whom initially refused to believe that such high-quality paintings could been have created by Paleolithic people, and influencing a number of artists, including Pablo Picasso. One image in particular, that of a bison, is iconic. The Caves of Altamira are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Bison of Altamira
Astrologically, asteroid Altamira seems to have to do with protecting something valuable; something ancient and precious, or time-honored; archeology; ancient cultures. Alex D'Atria also links it with insurance companies; indifference or lack of understanding.